Adriana Martinez > www.casamartinez.com.mx

Adriana Martinez, President, Casa Martinez

What do you need to be an entrepreneur? 

I think that you need to have passion, drive, determination, and the enthusiasm to work as hard as it takes to achieve success. It also takes ability to think outside of the box and take risks. 

What inspired you to start your business? 

My family owns a factory in Mexico that produces the most wonderful unique salsas that I have ever tasted. After studying in the United States I realized that with my knowledge of the business policies and practices in the US I could take the family business to the next level. The thought of being able to grow my family’s legacy is what inspired me. 

How did you finance it? 

Casa Martinez is fully funded by the family business in Mexico. 

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business? 

Of course it does, Casa Martinez rests on a foundation of rich culinary traditions and ancient recipes from our Mexican heritage. I am Hispanic and the principals and values that I was taught from a young age are the core elements that drive our business. Values like striving for the best, believing in yourself, and being proud of who you are and where you come from are an integral part of my business. 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going? 

There are always going to be obstacles to surmount, and challenges to face, but I just keep my eye on the prize. Having a positive attitude towards work and life has allowed me to see things in a clearer way and act in the best suited manner. 

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced? 

The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been taking charge of my family business and introducing the brand to the United States. There are so many brands and my main concern was to make everyone aware that our brand of salsas stands in a category of its own. 

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be? 

I would not change anything. I am fortunate to have had the sounds advice from my team of advisors from the very beginning. Having a strong support system with a clear and fresh vision led me to take the right decisions, and up to date, there are no decisions that I regret making. 

What was your childhood ambition? 

I wanted to be an artist. I love painting and I have been doing this since I was a little girl. However that little girl has grown up and although I can appreciate art, my fulltime ambition is to become a successful businesswoman known for introducing unique and high quality products. 

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire? 

There are several entrepreneurs I admire, but there is one in particular that I would like to mention: my father. He has been my mentor and the person who has taught me the most about business. He's trained me to be strong, driven and not to give up no matter what the circumstance. 

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner? 

Definitely breakfast! It’s when I’m the most alert, refreshed, and ready to take on whatever may come my way. 

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success? 

Anybody that owns and runs a company has to make sacrifices in their personal time. It’s a given that running a business consumes much of your personal time. However, I am ready and willing to make those sacrifices because I believe in Casa Martinez and in our products. 

What is your favorite quote? 

What you dream today, will be yours tomorrow. 

Is it difficult to be unconventional? 

It’s all relative. Am I unconventional because I am a woman entrepreneur, because I have a product that comes from another country? The United States is a melting pot of cultures, ideas and opportunities. It is only difficult to be that if you don’t have the vision to create something exceptional. 

Biggest mistake made? 

Thus far we have been very careful to not make mistakes, because everyone knows mistakes have a cost. My team of advisors and I have been done rigorous and careful planning to anticipate possible oversights and prepare ahead in case they should arise. As a new entrepreneur, I am aware that there will be some mistakes along the way and all I can do is to be humble, learn from them, correct them and move on. Isn’t that what every successful business person has done in the past? 

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why? 

I consider myself an innovator for the simple fact that, I, as a young entrepreneur; have decided to start a high quality, all-natural salsa brand to the American natural foods marketplace. 

About Casa Martinez 

Casa Martinez rests on a foundation of the rich culinary traditions and ancient recipes from our Mexican heritage. Our salsas are expertly crafted from fresh and flavorful ingredients to create extraordinary varieties that will enhance the everyday enjoyment of any appetizer, entrée or side dish.

Ana L. Flores > www.LatinaBloggersConnect.com

Ana L. Flores, Founder & Ceo, Latina Bloggers Connect

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

A vision and the desire to really, really want it. It is that desire that will keep you going through the inevitable bumpy moments.

What did inspire you to start your business?

It was a series of events that lead to it. My first enterprise was SpanglishBaby.com, which I co-founded in February 2009 with Roxana Soto. SpanglishBaby was born out of the need to fill a void that existed back then of blogs and online content that spoke to the experience of being a Latina mom in the U.S. Through the online and social media experience acquired with SpanglishBaby, I started to be sought after by both brands and bloggers to help them connect. Through the encouragement of colleagues and fellow bloggers, I decided to launch Latina Bloggers Connect. The heart of the vision there was to create a space where bloggers could connect with each other and with the brands that matter to them, as well as to provide resources for our community to continue to grow. Our motto is: “If one grows, we all grow.”

How did you finance it?

Both of my ventures have been self-financed, making it an even bigger adventure and learning process. I’m proud to say both are self-sustainable and growing at a steady path. I do plan to seek capital soon, though.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?

100%. Both SpanglishBaby and Latina Bloggers Connect are completely based on the Hispanic/Latino experience and culture. We are creating content that honors our language, heritage and culture.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

It’s now always easy, but I keep reminding myself that everything does happen for a reason. Years ago I decided, because it is a decision you can take, to see obstacles only as opportunities to grow. Once you change the way you see and react to situations, you let go of having those potential “problems” control you. 

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

The biggest challenge is definitely being self-financed and bootstrapping it along the way. I’ve always been both a connector and a content-creator, not a business-minded person. I take pride in the fact that I do have great ideas and I have a knack for being ahead of the game and at the right place, at the right time. However, the lack of financing slows down my pace since I can’t easily execute those ideas with out the proper resources and team.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I would have a real office and not a virtual one! The idea of working from home is a romantic one, but in reality it’s much more conducive to creativity to be in a room together with like-minded people.

What was your childhood ambition?

Hahaha! To meet Menudo! And I did, then many years later I ended up working with several of them and becoming friends when I was a producer at Univision. Aside from that, my ambitions were always to be independent and self-sustainable.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

Willa Shalit, founder of Fairwinds Trading.

Jeannette Kaplun, TodoBebe.com

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Breakfast. I’m usually in less of a hurry at that time.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I’ve had to sacrifice time with my 4 year-old daughter and with my husband. I keep reminding myself that even though I travel more than I’d like, I still have created a life for me that allows pockets of time when I need them for my family without having to ask permission from anyone. I have set limits on myself and will not work when my daughter is home with me. What gets difficult is the traveling.

What is your favorite quote?

“It´s always darkest before dawn.” It´s a proverb.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

I can´t have it any other way, so I wouldn´t know. Maybe it´s difficult when trying to make more traditional people, like family, understand why you would go through all the trouble of living a seemingly chaotic life when I could be successful in a safe office environment with a regular paycheck.

Biggest mistake made?

Talking to the wrong person about my next move.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

I do, yet I realize that ideas belong to all of us. Having an idea doesn´t make you an innovator, realizing it does. The concept behind Latina Bloggers Connect wasn´t new; yet back in 2010 I was the first one to apply that model in the Latina blogosphere. That was innovative enough that many soon followed.

About Latina Bloggers Connect, Inc

Founded in November 2010, Latina Bloggers Connect, Inc was the first brand/blogger network catering specifically to Latina bloggers, the fastest growing group online.

A women-owned and operated boutique agency, LBC specializes in crafting brand alliances and campaigns for bloggers and brands to connect in meaningful and effective ways.

LatinaBloggersConnect.com is the site to visit to find out what’s happening and who’s who in the influential Latina blogosphere, as well as a place for our community of Latina bloggers to keep learning and growing as professionals and reap the rewards.


Don't miss Ana L. Flores speak at our 2012 Marketing to Latinas Conference, followed by Business Networking Event, on June 14th in NYC. To register click here

Norma Almanza > www.TheYaGroup.com

Norma Almanza, Owner & President, The Ya Group

What do you need to be an entrepreneur? 
Confidence, determination and not being afraid of failure.

What inspired you to start your business? 
The challenge and desire to do what I love and in my own way.

How did you finance it?
A small investment of $1,500 of my own money.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business? 
Absolutely. As an American born Hispanic, I understand the U.S. Hispanic market. It’s a melting pot of many groups and it takes a level of comprehension to properly communicate effectively to each of these segments. It’s not just about knowing the language - it’s about knowing their cultural traits. 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going? 
I look at adversity as an opportunity. It makes you stronger. If you see it any other way, you won’t succeed. In this economy, it’s standard operating business. 

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced? 
There’s no one to blame but yourself. You don’t have a boss - you have clients. Evolving with clients and staying on top of the newest trends for clients is challenging. When I started my business everything used to be TV, Radio, Print and community outreach. Now it’s all of that plus social networking and the internet. 

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Nothing. I enjoy the daily challenges. 

What was your childhood ambition? 
To be an artist and to help people. 

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire? 
Trump for his business savvy and confidence in his skills; J. Lo for her talent, versatility as a business woman and never forgetting her roots; and my parents for teaching me about business and raising me in an entrepreneurial environment. They came from Cuba in the 60’s with nothing except courage and a commitment to living in a free society. They were both business owners and invested in real estate. 

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner? 
Lunch and a fun round of golf. 

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I never had to make any sacrifices on my personal life; my husband has encouraged me to grow in business. Both he and my children have always been very supportive of my business ventures. 

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It’s all relative, isn’t it? What is your favorite quote? “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” – Tom Brokaw Biggest mistake made? I never look at it as a mistake but as a lesson learned. 

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes because I am constantly creating new ideas. Every client, every product, every consumer is different. 

About The YA Group
The YA Group is a multicultural marketing communications agency that specializes in the US Hispanic market. With over 25 years of experience, The YA Group is made up of strategic thinkers who understand marketing goals, objectives, tools and techniques. We know and live the culture that is needed to effectively communicate with urban Hispanic consumers. As trends change, we know what’s hot – and what’s not. Most important is our deep understanding of the things that don’t change: the emotions, aspirations, values and personal relationships that are part of the unique Hispanic culture. A company is defined by leadership and commitment of its employees. I’m fortunate to have an elite team of experienced marketing professionals and resources that I can access in a minutes notice. The company has helped a wide range of clients create recognizable brands and messages that translate to the Hispanic community.

Andrew P Laine > www.espanolseguros.com

Andrew P Laine, Founder and CEO, Espanol Seguros

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurs face challenges on a daily basis and often times have to overcome obstacles that seem near impossible. With this said, in order to be an entrepreneur you need a tremendous amount of self-confidence and passion for your venture. If you are missing one or the other, making it through some of the tough days will be impossible. 

What did inspire you to start your business?

Business has always been a passion of mine and when I saw an opportunity within the online Hispanic community, I knew it was time to start on my own. Being directly responsible for the success or failure of the company early on was inspirational and kept me moving forward day after day.

  

How did you finance it?

From the start, we financed the business on our own and bootstrapped our way to where we are now. We are just reaching the point where we are speaking with investors to bring on additional capital to accelerate our growth. I think that working with your own capital teaches you how to be frugal and respect every purchase you make.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

When I faced challenges early on, I relied on my passion and confidence for what Espanol Seguros is trying to do. I am also stubborn and hate to admit defeat! 

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Our biggest challenge as a company has been the decision to raise additional capital. On one hand you want to grow your company organically and hold on to as much equity as you can, but on the other hand you know that raising additional capital could be a catalyst to grow your company at an exponential rate. We struggled with the decision, but are now happy with the decision.

  

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I think Espanol Seguros has the opportunity to not only serve the US Hispanic population, but serve other Spanish speaking countries in the international community. We receive a tremendous amount of international traffic to our websites and have been working to get programs in place to service these consumers, but we are not there yet.  

  

What was your childhood ambition?

I always wanted to be a fire fighter!

 

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire

First and foremost, Shawn Nelson of the company Love Sac (the furniture company). I saw his story on national news one night and reached out to the company, he ended up responding and was an inspiration. Guy Kawasaki is another entrepreneur whose books and website have been a wealth of knowledge and incite for me, I really like his business style. Lastly, I have to pay respect to John Rockefeller for being one of America’s original entrepreneurs.

  

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Breakfast… There is nothing like starting off a day with a good meeting.

 

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a

business success?

Time and capital. When you start your own business you and your family eat, breath and sleep it and sometimes you have to make decisions to put the business first. It’s not easy, but as long as you have the support of your loved ones, it’s bearable.

 

What is your favorite quote?

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

No. If you are an entrepreneur, it is in your blood in one form or another.  

Biggest mistake made?

In the beginning, our focus was not as disciplined as it should have been. We wanted to be in every lead vertical like online education, online finance instead of being focused on our core competency. This wasted a ton of capital and hours upon hours. I heard a great quote that sums it up, “Great baseball pitchers wouldn’t be great Football nose tackles.” Find your strength and focus on it.

 

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Yes and no. There is nothing new about the lead generation industry, nor about creating educational content sites. What is innovative is our approach and our focus on the Hispanic community. Our goal is to serve the Hispanic consumers in a comfortable environment and to give insurance providers a way to reach our growing population.

 

About Espanol Seguros

Espanol Seguros, also known as Spanish Insurance, LLC, was founded with the goal to connect the Hispanic population with bi-lingual service providers. Espanol Seguros, (www.espanolseguros.com or www.spanishinsurancellc.com) with a portfolio of more than seventy Hispanic targeted domains across multiple verticals and little competition, is poised to capture the majority of this growing traffic and serve a vital need for both consumers and lead buyers. With educational content targeted towards Hispanic consumers, in both English and Spanish, Espanol Seguros is able to convert more hits to sellable leads.

Toni Calderon > www.casusmanagement.com

Toni Calderon, President, Casus Management

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

You need to have a lot of patience and never loose sight of your long term goals, even when the odds are against you, you need to stay focused and get through the hard times.  Realistically things don’t happen over night and you will have a lot more failures than successes, but you have to keep planting seeds and preparing yourself because eventually the opportunity that you have been waiting for will come by and you need to be able to not only recognize it, but take advantage of it.  Being an entrepreneur is not only about coming up with new ideas, no matter how unique or innovative your concepts are, if you don’t sacrifice and work hard they will never become a reality. 

What did inspire you to start your business?

I’ve always had a passion for motorsports and after working directly both with drivers and teams I noticed an opportunity to fill a gap.  There was an important untapped market specifically dealing with Hispanic drivers, and Hispanic motorsport marketing and I saw the opportunity with my experience and connections to be one of the firsts to take advantage of it. 

How did you finance it?

Savings, part time jobs, and credit card debt.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

Yes in a big way, being bi-lingual bi-cultural has opened many doors in my business and most of my services are based on this experience. It is part of the nature of what we do and it is one of the main factors that set us apart from the competition, it also opens the door to a lot of unique business opportunities. 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

If you believe in what you are doing and you have set the foundation to be successful then you must keep going.  If there is an opportunity out there then eventually somebody will take advantage of it, whether it’s you or somebody else that held on longer and worked harder. 

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Staying a float during a recession.  Motorsports is a luxury and it was severely hit by the economy, and being a start up at that time made it very difficult.  But making it through also created many opportunities, as a lot of the competition did not survive. 

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

Less traveling.

What was your childhood ambition?

To be a race car driver. 

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire? 

Ricardo González – He is one of my clients, after retiring from racing at a young age, he focused on creating a very successful multi-million dollar insurance company in Mexico.  With the added free time and resources that this gives him he has now come back to racing and has become an extremely successful driver, winning championships and now competing at the highest levels of endurance racing in the world, while still managing to maintain and grow his business back at home. 

Zack Brown - He is the founder of Just Marketing International which is the most successful Motorsports Marketing firm in the United States. 

Malcolm Gladwell – Through his books and lectures he has become an inspiration to millions around the world who like myself have learned to see and understand the world a little differently thanks to his research and his writing. 

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

If in the US dinner, if in Mexico lunch. 

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I have been on the road for years, constantly traveling and sacrificing important social aspects back at home, but at the same time being present and active in the industry, which has been a key to success. 

What is your favorite quote?

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

Yes but not as difficult as I imagine being conventional would be. 

Biggest mistake made?

Not properly training the right staff when the opportunity was there to do it.   

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

No because most of the separate services that we offer don’t reinvent the wheel or are something that someone else couldn’t offer. The difference is that we’ve taken a variety of these services and brought them all under one umbrella, what makes us unique is the full range of assistance that we can offer our clients which they would otherwise receive from multiple sources. 

About Casus Management

Casus Management is a motorsports marketing company focused on driver management, sponsorship and B2B development, and PR representation.  We offer these services for general market, but are mostly focused on Mexican drivers competing internationally, and in developing marketing and activation programs to help increase the Hispanic motorsports fan base in the United States, and create communication channels for companies who are looking to reach this market through motorsports.  We currently represent three out of the four Mexican drivers competing internationally in North America. 

Our clients include:

Drivers: Luis Diaz (American Le Mans Series), Ricardo Gonzalez (World Endurance Championship), David Martinez (American Le Mans Series) and Davy Jones (GRAND-AM).

Teams: Conquest Racing (American Le Mans Series, IZOD IndyCar Series).

Series: Mission Foods GT3 Cup Trophy USA by Car Amigo

Leslie Class > www.lccareers.org

Leslie Class, Founder, Learning Curve Career Center (LCC)

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

First, you must have an idea with the patience see it develop and dedication to make it grow. Then, you must have the absolute determination and mindset not to fail. Lastly, you need the vision to see every obstacle as a learning brick for you to build on.

What did inspire you to start your business?

I took vocational training and became a Medical Assistant in 1994. For almost 20 years, I have been building my career as a healthcare professional. In 2004, I became an instructor in the field. Through teaching, I instantly developed a passion for helping others. The fulfillment that I gain by sharing my skills and experiences with my students is inexplicable. However, at that time, I was working for a (national) corporation that regularly markets these types of programs within lower income communities at an extremely inflated price. I witnessed many students deal with loan default and additional financial issues. I became unhappy with the recruitment practices of the institution and I was prompted to open Learning Curve Careers (LCC). I help others begin a career in the same way I did, despite any adversity. I teach students marketable work skills minus the exaggerated cost for the education so they can find meaningful employment.

How did you finance it?

I chose to work two jobs to help finance my dream initially. I currently own and operate a small paramedical company. Class1Paramedical allows me the time and flexibility I need to continue to develop my second business, Learning Curve Careers. I keep expenses down for LCC by forming partnerships with existing organizations.

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

In the New York metropolitan area, this type of career training tends to attract a lot of students, many of which are Hispanic. All potential students are seeking employment training that prepares them rapidly for work. Typical students tend to be female, single parents, underemployed or newly unemployed. The ethnic and racial diversity of the students is similar to that of the surrounding communities. They often have additional socio-economic problems. Many students have jobs, children, and childcare issues, transportation problems, debt and credit issues, and/or lack of self-confidence. I am a Puerto Rican female born and raised in here in New York. I have experienced teenage pregnancy, single motherhood, unemployment, and a lot of economic and personal struggle. I was a victim of domestic abuse, and I am a mother to a child with cerebral palsy. I can relate to my consumers. I believe my experiences and adversities have given me the strength to work for progress, to continue to aspire for more, and the struggles help give me the insight that I need to provide a better product to people that I serve.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

I am blessed with a very strong sense of self. I believe in my work, I am proud of what I have accomplished, and I know I am capable of even more, so I continue moving forward and growing. I believe in myself.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Financing is always a huge concern, but I continue to be innovative in my planning, and things are slowly working themselves out, just as they always do.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I want what everyone wants for his or her business; I want to see faster growth. I want to reach more people.

What was your childhood ambition? 

I always wanted to run my own business, to be my own boss.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

I truly admire people who have the determination to build, develop and ultimately realize their dreams. Those are the type of people that effect change in the world. First and foremost, I have always admired my father, Reinaldo Class. He was a successful Latino businessman in the field of electrical contracting. Nancy G. Brinker – is the founder of Susan B. Kolman Foundation, who began this foundation in her living room. Sean Carter, or “Jay Z” is an artist and self-made businessman. He has successfully ¬built his business into an empire.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

I think all time frames work for meetings, however meeting topics, and potential attendees should determine what time of day might be most appropriate.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I have sacrificed spending money and my personal time. I only purchase what is really necessary and I work a lot so I don’t feel that I have enough time to spend with my family.

What is your favorite quote? 

Here is only one of many: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” - Harriet Tubman

Is it difficult to be unconventional?  

No. It’s the way I’ve always been.

Biggest mistake made? 

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Therefore, I don’t believe in mistakes, only lessons, it’s all how you choose to look.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why? 

I do consider myself an innovator because I choose not to sway in my determination. When I face a challenge, it causes me to be more innovative in my thinking so that I can accomplish whatever it is that I want to do. I like to figure out a problem my own way.

About the company

Learning Curve Career Center (LCC) offers training programs focused in allied healthcare. They are specifically designed towards helping economically challenged members of our communities, those seeking additional job skills, and students aspiring to begin careers in the healthcare field. The training is affordable and prepares students rapidly for certification and employment as a healthcare professional.

The programs empower people and prompt self-sufficiency through job training and placement assistance. We have a variety of classes that focus on the specific skill sets necessary to succeed in a number of different careers. We hope to improve the level of professionalism throughout our neighborhoods and also to expand the available opportunities for residents. 

www.lccareers.org

www.facebook.com/learningcurve.careers
www.twitter.com/#!/LCCAREERS

Diego Saez-Gil > www.inBed.me

Diego Saez Gil, Co-Founder & CEO, inBed.me

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

You need irrational optimism, the ability to create a vision and convince others to jump on-board with you in the journey (partners, employees, investors, customers, etc.), and most important you need a strong passion about what you want to create.

What did inspire you to start your business?

Seeing how some people had transformed our world for the better by enlisting talented teams and executing ideas that seemed crazy at the beginning, always inspired me. I always dreamt with doing something with positive impact in the world. At some point I realized that starting a business may be a way to do it.

How did you finance it?

Initially I financed it with my savings and my credit card, when I ran out of money I started working in the side to keep going. At some point we raised investment, not only for the money but also for the contribution that the investors could bring to the business with their experience and connections. 

Being Hispanic… Does it have any influence on your business?

I think it does in a positive way. Being from Latin America makes me more flexible and creative, maybe because of the uncertainty that we are used to in our countries). Plus we are naturally really passionate about everything we do, which as I said I consider essential to be an entrepreneur.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?

I believe that adversity is part of every journey to achieving meaningful things. Therefore, when the adversities arrive I realize that they are just part of the journey, and that I need to keep going to realize my dreams.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

The biggest challenge was to keep going when you get rejected several times in a row by investors or partners. There is a big dilema between accepting outside feedback and sticking to your own vision, between pivoting or persevering. We persevered in the main assumptions but pivoted in the strategy and model to grow and keep going.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

I would like to do more, faster. But sometimes things take time, and one have to be patient.

What was your childhood ambition?

My childhood ambition it was to travel the world. That's why I started travel-related businesses. :)

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?

I admire Steve Jobs for the passion he put on everything he did. I admire Richard Branson for the craziness he brought to the business world. I admire Alec Oxenford (that I'm fortunate enough to have him as a mentor) for thinking big from Latin America and building global companies like OLX and others.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

I like breakfasts, but everything work for me, as long as you do good business. :)

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

The first years of building a business requires a lot of hard work, focus and travel. Because of that I don't spend all the time I would like to with my loved ones, nor I can spend time doing things I love like playing music, helping others, or traveling for fun. I hope that at some point the business will be more estable and I'll be able to have a more balanced lifestyle.

What is your favorite quote?

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart".

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

I love to be unconventional. For example, I happen to have an accent wherever I go (even in Argentina, because I am from the north) which makes me unconventional, and I find out that it has a positive impact in new people I meet. :)

Biggest mistake made?

I made a lot of mistakes in business, I could do a long list!, but they have been an amazing source of learning, that I am capitalizing now.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

I am proactively trying to think different and do things in new ways, not only on the design of the products we ship but also they way we work together with the team. Therefore I do consider myself an innovator.

About the company

inBed.me is a social booking platform for social travelers. I allows users to connect with peers going to the same destinations while they are booking a hostel or bed & breakfast to stay. Users can see who else will be staying at each place and find out travelers with similar interest, allowing them to connect to share tips or even plan activities together. Our company wants to make the process of booking online more fun and social.